Wiper blade comprising a support mount, an internal verterbra and a connecting element

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle wiper blade includes a support mount extending in a longitudinal main direction, and including a support for a wiping blade and a tubular body having a longitudinal main axis, a structural element in the form of a longitudinal horizontal strip which is accommodated inside the tubular body, and an element for connecting the blade to a drive arm which is mounted on the support mount and which includes a locking mechanism for locking the structural element in a position in the connecting element. The locking mechanism of the connecting element includes, on the one hand, a longitudinal mechanism for locking the structural element in said position, and on the other hand, an angular mechanism for locking the structural element in said position.

The invention provides a motor vehicle wiper blade of the “flat blade”type comprising a connecting element for the connection to a drive armwhich provides the fastening of a structural element to a support mount.

The invention more particularly provides a motor vehicle wiper bladecomprising:

-   -   a support mount having a longitudinal main direction, which        comprises means for supporting a wiping blade and a tubular body        having a longitudinal main axis;    -   a structural element in the form of a longitudinal horizontal        strip which is accommodated inside a tubular body; and    -   an element for connecting the blade to a drive arm which is        mounted on the support mount and which comprises locking means        for locking the structural element in position in the connecting        element.

According to a concept which consists in providing low wiper blades, thearticulated structure of the wiper blade which carries the wiping bladeor wiping rubber blade is omitted, and the association of a hollowsupport mount with a stiffening longitudinal vertebra constitutes thestructure of the wiper blade proper.

The support mount has the shape of a segment of a longitudinal sectionwhich includes a tubular body inside which the vertebra, which is in theform of a longitudinal horizontal blade, is accommodated.

The mount finally includes lower mounting hooks for the wiping blade.

The vertebra is made in a rigid material for example steel, making itpossible to press the wiping blade against the glass surface to bewiped.

The wiper blade also includes an element for connecting the blade to adrive arm during the wiping, which is mounted around a body of thesupport mount and which includes locking means for locking the vertebraduring a longitudinal motion in a position mounted inside of the body ofthe support mount.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,248 discloses a wiper blade of the “flatblade” type for which the connecting element is connected to thevertebra by means of elastic tabs which are accommodated in groovesmatching the vertebra.

Document FR-A-2 868 376 discloses a wiper blade of the “flat blade”type, wherein the connecting element is connected to the support mountby locking means composed of teeth which are accommodated in notchesprovided in the side edges of the vertebra.

During various tests carried out on the later fastening device,clearances appeared between the connecting elements and the vertebra.Such disadvantage is more particularly resulting from the position ofteeth with respect to the notches in the vertebra, since the second pairof teeth may not exactly be opposite the associated notches because ofthe tolerances on the various parts or on the assembling means and ifthe positioning reference is provided by a first pair of teeth.

Besides, and compulsorily from an industrial point of view, the cuts inthe vertebra cause square corners to appear on the edges, and thecontact of a tooth at the level of a square corner creates a localizedcontact area which does not extend on the whole of the tooth geometryand the corresponding notch thereof.

Thus, when and as the wiper blade is used, the teeth progressively andpermanently lose their shape, because of the appearing clearances, sothat the efficiency of the wiper blade is thus reduced.

The object of the invention is to provide a wiper blade for which themeans for locking a vertebra in the mounted position in the supportmount are rigid enough not to progressively lose their shape, and whichmake it possible to avoid any clearance between the various elements ofthe wiper blade, longitudinally as well as angularly.

For this purpose, the invention provides a wiper blade of the previouslydescribed type, wherein the means for locking the connecting element onthe support mount, comprise, on the one hand longitudinal locking meansfor locking the structural element in position, and on the other handangular means for locking a structural element in position in theconnecting element.

Such characteristic more particularly enables the separation of thelocking functions, for providing a locking of the structural element inthe connecting element in every direction.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

-   -   the longitudinal locking means include at least one pin which is        accommodated in a notch provided in the structural element;    -   the pins are at least 2 in number, each one being accommodated        in a notch provided in the side edges on either side of the        structural element;    -   each notch has a globally rectangular shape which matches the        associated pin;    -   the angular locking means include holding teeth which cooperate        with the side edges of the structural element;    -   the transversal free end of each holding tooth includes a top        surface which is pressed on the side edge of the structural        element during the mounting and/or crimping of the connecting        element on the support mount;    -   the pins and holding teeth are arranged on the side lugs of the        connecting element;    -   each pin and each holding tooth transversely extends towards the        inside of the connecting element from an internal vertical        longitudinal face of the associated side lug;    -   with each pin and each holding tooth is associated at least one        holding pad vertically positioned on either side of the pin        and/or the holding tooth;    -   with each pin and each holding tooth is associated a pair of        holding pads comprising an upper pad and a lower pad vertically        positioned on either side of the pin and/or holding tooth;    -   the holding tooth is positioned transversally back with respect        to each holding pad;    -   the side walls of the tubular body include first and second side        openings which are gone through by the pin and the top surface        of the holding tooth of the connecting element, respectively;    -   the first and second side openings are provided by cutting the        side wall prior to mounting the connecting element 16 on the        support mount;    -   each side opening includes an upper cut and a lower cut, wherein        the associated upper and lower holding pads are inserted;    -   each cut and the associated holding pad have matching shapes.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear uponreading the following detailed description for the understanding ofwhich reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wiper blade of the generallyknown “flat blade” type, in which the locking means provided on theconnecting element are not shown;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective schematic view of a wiper bladeincluding a connecting element complying with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a wiper blade shown inFIG. 1 prior to the mounting of the connecting element;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, wherein the connectingelement is mounted on the support mount, showing the locking elements inoperation.

For the description of the invention, the vertical, longitudinal andtransversal orientations will be chosen in a non limitative way,according to a V, L, T system as mentioned in the Figures.

In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elementswill be indicated by the same reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a known general structure of a wiper blade 10 of the “flatblade” type, which includes the support mount 12 having a longitudinalmain direction which carries the other components of the wiper blade 10,an internal vertebra 14 in the shape of a longitudinal horizontal blade,a connecting element 16 making it possible to connect the wiper blade 10to a drive arm (not shown) and a wiping blade (not shown). Theconnecting element 16 comprises locking means for locking the vertebra14 inside the mount 12 which are not shown in FIG. 1.

The mount 12 includes a tubular central body 18 having a longitudinalmain axis which is delimited by a horizontal upper wall 20, a horizontallower wall 22 and by two vertical and longitudinal side walls 24.

Of course, such delimitation of the tubular body 18 is not limitative.As a matter of fact, the tubular body may have a section of a circularor elliptical shape, insofar as the body is able to accommodate avertebra 14, whatever its shape.

The mount 12 also comprises a longitudinal upper rib 26 which extendsvertically upwards from the upper face of the horizontal upper wall 20of the body 18, and which is aerodynamically shaped, so as to generatepressing forces of the wiper blade 10 on the glass surface, under theaction of the wind produced by the movement of the vehicle.

Eventually, the support mount 12 comprises lower means for mounting thewiping blade, which consist in two opposing longitudinal lower hooks 28,which delimit a tubular body 30 opening downwards, wherein a backbonematching the wiping blade is mounted.

The vertebra 14 constitutes the structural element of the wiper blade 10which stiffens the mount 12. The vertebra 14 is made of a rather rigidmaterial for example steel or a composite material and it consists of alongitudinal horizontal blade which is arranged inside the tubular body18.

The connecting element 16 is mounted longitudinally, approximately inthe middle of the mount 12, and overlaps the body 18 of the mount 12,i.e. which means it extends above the horizontal upper wall 20 and oneither side of the side walls 24.

The upper rib 26 includes an opening 32 through which the connectingelement 16 is mounted on the mount 12.

The connecting element 16 is composed of two identical parts 33 whichare mounted in an arrangement wherein they are positioned opposite eachother on the body 18, according to a transversal motion.

Each part 33 of the connecting element 16 includes an upper base 36which rests on the upper face of the horizontal upper wall 20 of thebody 18 and which includes means 38 for fixing the upper base 36 of theouter part 33 of the connecting element 16.

The fixing means 38 more particularly include a bore and a stem for eachpart 33 of the connecting element 16.

The connecting element 16 also includes two lower side lugs 34, each oneextending downwards from an upper base 36 of the associated part 33 andbeing transversally distributed on either side of the body 18 of themount 12, so as to provide the transversal positioning of the connectingelement 16 with respect to the body 18.

The lower free end 34 i of each side lug 34 is bent towards the insideof the connecting element 16 and constitutes a hook extending opposite alower face 22 i of the horizontal lower wall 22 of the body 18. Thelower end 34 i of each side lug 34 thus makes it possible to provide thevertical locking of the connecting element 16 in the position mountedaround the body 18.

As can been seen in FIG. 2, the connecting element 16 comprises lockingmeans for locking the vertebra 14 in the mounted position inside thehollow body 18 of the support mount 12.

The locking means of the connecting element 16 are of two types:

-   -   longitudinal locking means and    -   angular locking means.

The combination of the two types of locking means makes it possible tohold the vertebra 14 in position in the body 18 in all the directions.

Longitudinal locking means include at least an internal transversal pin40 positioned on each part 33 of the connecting element 16. Such pin 40cooperates with a notch 42 provided in the vertebra 14 for providing thelongitudinal locking of the vertebra 14 in the position mounted in thebody 18 of the mount.

The pins 40 are provided on the side lugs 34.

The notches 42, which accommodate the pins 40, are provided in the sideedges 14 a of the vertebra 14 and according to an embodiment of theinvention, the notches 42 have a shape matching that of the pins 40, forexample a rectangular shape.

In this case, each side lug 34 includes a pin 40 and each side edge 14 aof the vertebra 14 thus includes a notch 42.

Each pin 40 transversally extends towards the inside of the connectingelement 16 from an internal vertical longitudinal face 34 a of theassociated side lug 34 and its internal free end is accommodated in theassociated notch 42 of the vertebra 14.

The pins 40 allow an easy positioning of the connecting element 16 onthe mount and their cooperation with the notches 42 provides a goodlongitudinal mechanical holding of the vertebra 14 in the connectingelement 16.

The angular locking means include internal transversal holding teeth 44positioned on each part 33 of the connecting element 16 which cooperateswith the side edges 14 a of the vertebra 14. Each holding tooth 44includes a top surface 45 which is intended to contact a side edge ofthe vertebra during the mounting. According to one or more embodimentsof the claimed invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top surface 45of the holding tooth 44 abuts against only one side edge 14 a of thevertebra 14 during the mounting and/or the crimping of the connectingelement 16 on the mount 12.

In this case, each side lug 34 includes two teeth 44 positioned oneither side of the pin 40 and each side edge 14 a over the vertebra 14thus includes two contact areas.

Each tooth 44 transversely extends towards the inside of the connectingelements 16 from the internal vertical longitudinal face 34 a of theassociated side lug 34 and its top surface 45 is pressed on the sideedge 14 a of the vertebra during the mounting and/or the crimping of theelement 16 on the mount 12.

The pressing of the teeth 44 on the sides of the vertebra makes itpossible to obtain a good holding in torsion in the case of an angularmotion between the mount 12 and the connecting element 16, as well asvertical holding of the vertebra in the mount.

Such separation of the holding functions according to the variousdirections makes it possible to adapt the locking means to the desiredholding direction and improves the quality and the performances of theconnection between the connecting element 16 and the mount 12.

In such an arrangement, the center of the notch 42 is the reference forproviding the notch 42 and for assembling the wiper blade. Sucharrangement with a pair of pins 40 cooperating with a pair of notches 42then does not require any tolerance or particular clearance for themanufacturing and assembling of the connecting element 16 and the mount12.

In addition, for providing the holding of the body 18 with respect tothe connecting element 16, each pin 40 and tooth 44 is designed to beassociated with at least one holding pad and preferably a pair ofholding pads 58, 60, each pad being vertically positioned on either sideof the pin or the tooth of the internal face 34 a of the associated sidelug 34.

Such pads 58, 60 having a globally rectangular shape make it possible tohelp positioning the connecting element 16 on the mount 12 and holdingthe body 18 with respect to the connecting element 16 through theircooperation with the side edge 14 a of the vertebra 14.

Thus, the upper 58 and lower 60 holding pads associated with a pin 40and/or a holding tooth 44 are vertically arranged on either side of thevertebra 14, thus providing the vertical and longitudinal positioning ofthe vertebra 14 with respect to the connecting element 16.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown, in cross-section, the connecting element 16before and after the mounting on the mount 12.

Prior to the mounting, the two parts 33 of the connecting element 16 arepositioned on either side of, and opposite lateral edges 14 a of thevertebra 14, so that the pins 40 match the notches 42.

The teeth 44, provided with their top surfaces 45 are positioned oneither side of each pin 40, opposite the side edges of the vertebra 14.

After mounting of the element 16 on the mount 12 and fixing both parts33, for example by crimping or using locking means 38, the pins 40 areaccommodated in the notches 42 and the top surfaces 45 of the teeth 44are pressed against the side edges 40 a of the vertebra 14.

Besides, as can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sidewalls 24 of the body 18 include first 46 a and second 46 b side openingsintended to cooperate with the pins 40 and teeth 44 positioned on theconnecting elements 16.

Such side openings give a direct access to the vertebra 14 and to theside edges 14 a thereof holding it or resting against it.

Each first side opening 46 a is positioned opposite each notch 42 andgone through by the associated pin 40 of the connecting element 16.

The pin 40 is thus accommodated at the bottom of the associated notch42, thus improving the longitudinal locking of the vertebra 14 withrespect to the connecting element 16.

The second side openings 46 b are positioned on either side of a firstside opening 46 a and gone through by the top surface 45 of theassociated holding tooth 44.

The tooth 44 is thus positioned at the level of the side opening 46 band the top surface 45 is pressed against the side edge 14 a of thevertebra 14.

Such side openings thus give a direct access to the vertebra 14 and itsside edges 14 a for holding it or resting against it.

The first and second side openings 46 a and 46 b are made prior tomounting the connecting element 16 on the mount 12 during themanufacturing of the mount 12 by moulding or co-extruding or by cuttingoperations.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the side openings 46 a and 46 b comprise inaddition an upper cut 52 provided in the upper horizontal wall 20 whichtransversely extends towards the inside of the mount 12 and a lower cut56 provided in the horizontal lower wall 22 and which also transverselyextends towards the inside of the mount 12.

In practice, each pair of cuts constituted by an upper cut 52 and alower cut 56 composes a single opening with the first and second sideopenings 46 a, 46 b.

The upper 58 (not visible in FIGS. 3 and 4 because of thecross-sectional view) and lower 60 holding pads match the upper 52 andlower 56 cuts respectively, which gives a horizontal positioning withoutany clearance of the support mount 12 with respect to the connectingelement 16.

In this case, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the upper cut 52 and thematching upper pad 58 have a globally rectangular shape.

In addition, the teeth 44 transversely extend back from the upper 53 andlower 60 pads.

The side edge 14 a of the vertebra is thus accommodated between theupper 58 and lower 60 pads, thus providing the vertical positioning ofthe vertebra 14 inside the body 18, more particularly in order to holdthe vertebra 14 in horizontal position.

Such separation of the longitudinal and angular holding functions makesit possible to provide simplified cuts at the level of the vertebra 14and side opening 46 a and 46 b as well as an easy positioning of theparts during the assembling of the wiper blade.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A motor vehicle wiper blade, comprising: asupport mount extending in a longitudinal main direction, the supportmount comprising means for supporting a wiping blade and a tubular bodyhaving a longitudinal main axis; a structural element in a form of alongitudinal horizontal strip which is accommodated inside the tubularbody; and a connecting element for connecting the blade to a drive armwhich is mounted on the support mount and which comprises locking meansfor locking the structural element in a position in the connectingelement, wherein the locking means of the connecting element comprises:longitudinal means for locking the structural element in said position;and angular means for locking the structural element in said position,wherein the angular locking means comprises a different form than thelongitudinal locking means, wherein the angular locking means is locatedbeside and is horizontally distanced from the longitudinal lockingmeans, such that a horizontal distance between the angular locking meansand the longitudinal locking means is parallel to the longitudinal mainaxis of the tubular body, wherein the angular locking means comprise aplurality of holding teeth, which cooperates with the side edges of thestructural element for angularly locking the structural element withrespect to the connecting element, and wherein a transversal free end ofeach holding tooth comprises a top surface which abuts against only oneside edge of the structural element during the mounting or the crimpingof the connecting element onto the support mount.
 2. The wiper bladeaccording to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal locking means comprise apin which is accommodated in a notch for longitudinally locking thestructural element with respect to the connecting element.
 3. The wiperblade according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal locking meanscomprise at least two pins which are each accommodated in one notchprovided in the two side edges on either side of the structural element.4. The wiper blade according to claim 3, wherein each notch of thestructural element has a globally rectangular shape, which matches theassociated pin.
 5. The wiper blade according to claim 2, wherein sidewalls of the tubular body comprise at least a first side opening whichis positioned opposite each notch of the structural element and which isgone through by the associated pin.
 6. The wiper blade according toclaim 2, wherein side walls of the tubular body comprise at least twosecond side openings which are positioned on either side of a first sideopening thereof and which are each gone through by a top surface of anassociated holding tooth.
 7. The wiper blade according to claim 6,wherein the first and second side openings are provided by cutting theassociated side wall of the tubular body prior to mounting of theconnecting element on the support mount.
 8. The wiper blade according toclaim 7, wherein each side opening comprises an upper cut and a lowercut provided respectively in the upper and lower horizontal walls of thebody and the upper and lower holding pads associated with each pinand/or holding tooth are respectively accommodated in said upper andlower cuts in order to longitudinally position the connecting elementwith respect to the support mount.
 9. The wiper blade according to claim8, wherein each cut and the associated holding pad have matching shapes.10. The wiper blade according to claim 2, wherein the angular lockingmeans comprise a plurality of holding teeth, which cooperates with theside edges of the structural element for angularly locking thestructural element with respect to the connecting element.
 11. The wiperblade according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body is delimited by anupper horizontal wall, a lower horizontal wall, and by two verticallongitudinal side walls, with the connecting element being mounted onthe support mount through two vertical longitudinal side lugs whichextend on either side of the side walls of the tubular body, wherein thelongitudinal locking means comprise at least one pin, wherein theangular locking means comprise a plurality of holding teeth, and whereinthe at least one pin is located beside and is horizontally distancedfrom the plurality of holding teeth, such that a horizontal distancebetween the at least one pin and the plurality of holding teeth isparallel to the longitudinal main axis of the tubular body.
 12. Thewiper blade according to the claim 11, wherein each pin and each holdingtooth transversely extends towards an inside of the connecting elementfrom an internal vertical longitudinal face of the associated laterallug.
 13. The wiper blade according to claim 12, wherein with each pinand each holding tooth is associated at least a retaining pad,vertically positioned on either side of the pin and/or the holding toothon the side lug to provide a holding of the tubular body with respect tothe connecting element.
 14. The wiper blade according to claim 12,wherein the holding tooth is positioned transversely back from eachholding pad.
 15. The wiper blade according to claim 13, wherein witheach pin and holding tooth is associated a pair of holding padscomprising an upper pad and a lower pad vertically positioned on eitherside of the pin and/or the holding tooth.
 16. The wiper blade accordingto claim 11, wherein with each pin and each holding tooth is associatedat least a retaining pad, vertically positioned on either side of thepin and/or the holding tooth on the side lug to provide a holding of thetubular body with respect to the connecting element.
 17. The wiper bladeaccording to claim 16, wherein with each pin and holding tooth isassociated a pair of holding pads comprising an upper pad and a lowerpad vertically positioned on either side of the pin and/or the holdingtooth.
 18. The wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the holdingtooth is positioned transversely back from each holding pad.
 19. Amethod for connecting a motor vehicle wiper blade to a drive arm,wherein the wiper blade comprises a support mount extending in alongitudinal main direction, a structural element in a form of alongitudinal horizontal strip that is accommodated inside a tubular bodyof the support mount, and a connecting element, the method comprising:mounting the connecting element on the support mount; and usinglongitudinal locking means and angular locking means to lock thestructural element in a position in the connecting element, wherein theangular locking means is located beside and is horizontally distancedfrom the longitudinal locking means, such that a horizontal distancebetween the angular locking means and the longitudinal locking means isparallel to a longitudinal main axis of the tubular body, wherein theangular locking means comprises a different form than the longitudinallocking means, wherein the angular locking means comprise a plurality ofholding teeth, which cooperates with the side edges of the structuralelement for angularly locking the structural element with respect to theconnecting element, and wherein a transversal free end of each holdingtooth comprises a top surface which abuts against only one side edge ofthe structural element during the mounting or the crimping of theconnecting element onto the support mount.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the longitudinal locking means comprise at least onepin, and wherein the angular locking means comprise a plurality ofholding teeth.
 21. A motor vehicle wiper blade, comprising: a structuralelement in a form of a longitudinal horizontal strip which isaccommodated inside a tubular body of a support mount; and a connectingelement for connecting the blade to a drive arm which is mounted on thesupport mount and which comprises locking means for locking thestructural element in a position in the connecting element, wherein thelocking means of the connecting element comprises: longitudinal meansfor locking the structural element in said position; first angular meansfor locking the structural element in said position; and second angularmeans for locking the structural element in said position, wherein thelongitudinal locking means is located between the first angular lockingmeans and the second angular locking means, such that a first horizontaldistance between the first angular locking means and the longitudinallocking means is parallel to a longitudinal main axis of the tubularbody, and such that a second horizontal distance between the secondangular locking means and the longitudinal locking means is parallel tothe longitudinal main axis of the tubular body, wherein the firstangular locking means and the second angular locking means comprise adifferent form than the longitudinal locking means.
 22. A motor vehiclewiper blade, comprising: a support mount extending in a longitudinalmain direction, the support mount comprising means for supporting awiping blade and a tubular body having a longitudinal main axis; astructural element in a form of a longitudinal horizontal strip which isaccommodated inside the tubular body; and a connecting element forconnecting the blade to a drive arm which is mounted on the supportmount and which comprises locking means for locking the structuralelement in a position in the connecting element, wherein the lockingmeans of the connecting element comprises: longitudinal means forlocking the structural element in said position; first angular means forlocking the structural element in said position; and second angularmeans for locking the structural element in said position, wherein thelongitudinal locking means is located between each of the first angularlocking means and the second angular locking means, such that a firsthorizontal distance between the first angular locking means and thelongitudinal locking means is parallel to the longitudinal main axis ofthe tubular body, and such that a second horizontal distance between thesecond angular locking means and the longitudinal locking means isparallel to the longitudinal main axis of the tubular body, wherein thelongitudinal locking means comprises a different form than the first andsecond angular locking means, wherein the longitudinal locking meanscomprise at least one pin, wherein the first angular locking meanscomprise a first plurality of holding teeth, wherein the second angularlocking means comprise a second plurality of holding teeth, and whereinthe at least one pin is located between each of the first plurality ofholding teeth and the second plurality of holding teeth.